2025 Scholarship Recipients

Q: What does it mean to you to receive this scholarship?
A: Receiving this scholarship means I am one step closer to being able to afford my education and long term career goals.

Q: Is there someone in your life that has inspired you to achieve your goals?
A: My mother. She has shown me what it truly means to be resilient and I feel grateful for her unwavering support and faith in me.

Q: What are you passionate about?
A: I’m passionate about community service and hope to carry this forward as I study and practice in the field of medicine.

Q: Do you know where you’ll be going to school in the Fall?
A: I am undecided.

Q: Have you decided on a major? If so, do you have any specific career plans?
A: I am interested in studying biology since I'm leaning towards the pre-med track.

Q: What advice would you give younger students facing their own challenges?
A: Sometimes current circumstances may seem overwhelming but don’t give up, keep trying, and reach out to ask for help when needed.

Q: What does it mean to you to receive this scholarship?
A: I'm so happy to receive this scholarship and grateful to be recognized!

Q: Is there someone in your life that has inspired you to achieve your goals?
A: My parents - they have always supported and encouraged me.

Q: What are you passionate about?
A: Singing

Q: What college are you attending in the fall?
A: Longwood University

Q: Have you decided on a major?
A: Communications. I am also interested in minoring in sociology.

Q: What advice would you give younger students facing their own challenges?
A: Keep believing in yourself, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.

Q: What does it mean to you to receive this scholarship?
A: It means the world to me. After losing my dad, it was really tough for me to find my way academically because he was my guiding person. I want to help change the world in engineering. This gives me a little peace of mind.

Q: Is there someone in your life who has inspired you to achieve your goals?
A: Yes, my dad, since before I could talk, he used to include me in all the projects around the house. He used to say, “if there is something that could be fixed, I can do it better and less expensive than professionals". He came here from India with nothing and went to the top schools and made his life.

Q: What are you passionate about? What do you do in your free time?
A: Aside from engineering, I love crocheting. I make baby hats for NICU babies and blankets for homeless shelters. I also foster puppies. I am passionate about humane treatment of animals and animals in general.

Q: Do you know where you’ll be going to school in the fall?
A: Between Cornell and Georgia Tech

Q: Have you decided on a major? If so, do you have any specific career plans?
A: Mechanical engineering

Q: What advice would you give younger students facing their own challenges?
A: I would say take a step each day at a time and try not to compare yourself to others. Take a moment to slow down and be present in the moment.

Q: What does it mean to you to receive this scholarship?
A: Provides me with the opportunity to pursue my education and achieve my goal of becoming a nurse.

Q: Is there someone in your life who has inspired you to achieve your goals?
A: My mom – she has always told me that challenges don't define who you are—it's your hard work that truly matters.

Q: What are you passionate about?
A: I have a strong desire to help others, especially when I see them facing challenges

Q: Do you know where you’ll be going to school in the Fall?
A: Laurel Ridge Community College

Q: Have you decided on a major? If so, do you have any specific career plans?
A: I’m pursuing a career in nursing because I want to make a difference in high-pressure situations. My goal is to work in trauma care, where I can help people when they need it most.

Q: What advice would you give younger students facing their own challenges?
A: Keep moving forward—your struggles are not stronger than you, and there’s always something brighter waiting on the other side.

Q: What does it mean to you to receive this scholarship?
A: It is a blessing especially with how expensive things are. A little stability means a lot. To be recognized by an organization is a great feeling!

Q: Is there someone in your life that has inspired you to achieve your goals?
A: My father worked very hard for my family, and it motivates me to make him proud. He really wants me to go to college, get an education, and he truly wants to see me be successful. It motivates me to go out there and do big things.

Q: What are you passionate about? What do you do in your free time?
A: I like to play basketball, go to the gym and skateboard. My friends and I also like to record videos on YouTube and have gotten 30,000 views.

Q: Do you know where you’ll be going to school in the fall?
A: University of Pennsylvania

Q: Have you decided on a major? If so, do you have any specific career plans?
A: Majoring in AI

Q: What advice would you give younger students facing their own challenges?
A: Do not compare yourself. You are your own person, and you take yourself where you want to go. Once you stop comparing yourself and understand your journey is different, opportunities will present themselves.

Q: What does it mean to you to receive this scholarship?
A: It is a great honor. There is a great financial need and privilege to be recognized by a well-known company.

Q: Is there someone in your life that inspired you to achieve your goals?
A: My youth pastor, parents, people in my church, and others in my community.

Q: What are you passionate about?
A: I am passionate about community outreach and multimedia journalism. I also volunteer as a videographer to help prevent suicide and raise awareness.

Q: Where ae you going to school in the fall?
A: Virginia Tech University

Q: Have you decided on a major?
A: I will major in multimedia with hopes of going into sports media.

Q: What advice would you give younger students facing their own challenges?
A: Know that you can always be yourself. Some people feel like they must try to fit in. However, that’s not ideal. When being your true self, it will open more opportunities.

Q: What does it mean to you to receive this scholarship?
A: A path forward to the future and being able to help others.

Q: Is there someone in your life that has inspired you to achieve your goals?
A: My mentor, Tish Harris has helped me strive for success.

Q: What are you passionate about?
A: I am passionate about helping others. In my spare time, I enjoy watching videos on coding, reading, spending time with my siblings, and the youth at church.

Q: Do you know where you’ll be going to school in the Fall?
A: William and Mary.

Q: Have you decided on a major? If so, do you have any specific career plans?
A: Computer science, with hopes of a career in art and cybersecurity.

Q: What advice would you give to younger students facing their own challenges?
A: To always strive for success and self-advocate.

Q: What does it mean to you to receive this scholarship?
A: It means a lot knowing it will positively impact my financial future.

Q: Is there someone in your life that has inspired you to achieve your goals?
A: My Aunt Sydney

Q: What are you passionate about?
A: Speech pathology

Q: Do you know where you’ll be going to school in the Fall?
A: Longwood University

Q: Have you decided on a major? If so, do you have any specific career plans?
A: I plan on becoming a speech pathologist. I want to be able to help people with speech disorders.

Q: What advice would you give younger students facing their own challenges?
A: Remember that life gets better, and not to mistreat people.

Questions and answers coming soon!

Q: What does it mean to you to receive this scholarship?
A: I’m still taking it all in, but it truly means a lot to me.

Q: Is there someone in your life that has inspired you to achieve your goals?
A: My mom and Nana

Q: What are you passionate about?
A: Animals and music

Q: Do you know where you’ll be going to school in the Fall?
A: Tidewater Community College (TCC)

Q: Have you decided on a major? If so, do you have any specific career plans?
A: TCC's veterinarian program. My goal is to be a veterinarian.

Q: What advice would you give younger students facing their own challenges?
A: Never give up, no matter what the obstacles are.

Q: What does it mean to you to receive this scholarship?
A: It's an honor

Q: Is there someone in your life that has inspired you to achieve your goals?
A: My grandparents

Q: What are you passionate about? What do you do in your free time?
A: I like to work on cars, I'm always fixing something. I like problem solving!

Q: Do you know where you’ll be going to school in the Fall?
A: Laural Ridge Community College

Q: Have you decided on a major? If so, do you have any specific career plans?
A: Yes, I’ve chosen to pursue HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning).

Q: What advice would you give younger students facing their own challenges?
A: Always look forward and keep your focus up.

Q: What does it mean to you to receive this scholarship?
A: It means a lot to me – It highlights what I want to do and helps me pursue my academic goals. It opens more doors up for me and what school is the best fit for me not just what is the most affordable

Q: Is there someone in your life that has inspired you to achieve your goals?
A: My parents, my dad especially. He worked for TSA for 18+ years and he is a big source of inspiration for me. He taught me a strong work ethic.

Q: What are you passionate about?
A: I enjoy running, playing pickle ball, and playing the guitar. I also enjoy reading.

Q: Do you know where you’ll be going to school in the Fall?
A: Still undecided- I’m between UC Berkeley and University of Virginia

Q: Have you decided on a major? If so, do you have any specific career plans?
A: At UVA political philosophy and focusing on pre-law. I think I want to be in law, maybe a prosecutor and eventually work up to being a politician. With the goal of being Governor of Virginia.

Q: What advice would you give younger students facing their own challenges?
A: The challenge is in the moment, it isn’t forever.

Q: What does it mean to you to receive this scholarship?
A: The support to achieve my academic goals – I’m so relieved.

Q: Is there someone in your life that has inspired you to achieve your goals?
A: My aunt, my parents and my family they have all been so supportive.

Q: What are you passionate about? What do you do in your free time?
A: I love visiting historic places and getting outside.

Q: Do you know where you’ll be going to school in the Fall?
A: Regent University

Q: Have you decided on a major? If so, do you have any specific career plans?
A: I plan to do the 3+3 program and am interested in family law. Not many people have access to the services they need and I want to be an advocate for change.

Q: What advice would you give younger students facing their own challenges?
A: Take it day by day. You can only control what you do right now.

Q: What does it mean to you to receive this scholarship?
A: Peace of mind. It gives me more freedom to go where I want to go to school and brings me one step closer to following my dreams.

Q: Is there someone in your life that has inspired you to achieve your goals?
A: My dad, he has always powered through every obstacle. He encourages me to do the same.

Q: What are you passionate about? What do you do in your free time?
A: I love playing sports. My favorites are spike ball and basketball. My friends and family are really important to me so any activity I can do to spend time with them too

Q: Do you know where you’ll be going to school in the Fall?
A: I am undecided

Q Have you decided on a major? If so, do you have any specific career plans?
A: Global Business International Finance – potentially investment banking and then venture capital so I can pave the way for those around me and support my friends and family. I’m also really interested in political science. I’m looking forward to taking some courses and seeing which major I prefer.

Q: What advice would you give younger students facing their own challenges?
A: Slow down you’re doing fine. We can all get too focused on checking the next thing off our list. We should be appreciating the time we’re in and take it one day at a time.

Q: What does it mean to you to receive this scholarship?
A: It is so nice to know there are people out there who support my dreams and they see me.

Q: Is there someone in your life that has inspired you to achieve your goals?
A: My mother – she is a hard-working single mom. She has overcome so many battles and she is such a warrior.

Q: What are you passionate about? What do you do in your free time?
A: Theater – I love singing. I went to the international thespian festival last year.

Q: Do you know where you’ll be going to school in the Fall?
A: Still deciding

Q: Have you decided on a major? If so, do you have any specific career plans?
A: Political Science, set on a pre-law track to become a lawyer. I'd like to focus on juvenile law, I want to work with children and give them a voice

Q: What advice would you give younger students?
A: You have to stay optimistic and keep a positive outlook!